Staple forming and setting machine.



M. R. u-urcmsomi STAPLE FORMING AND SET TING' MACHINE.

APPUCATION FlLED FEB. 19, (916. 1

1,2963, Patented M ar.11,1919.-

5 ET$-SHEET 1.. 5 5a INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY M. R. HUTCHISON. STAPLE FORMING AND SETTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, I916- Paten ted Mar. 11,1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M. H. HUTCHISUN. STAPLE FORMING AND SETTING MACHINE.

APPLICATiON FILED FEB-19,1916.

' Patented Mar. 11, 19151 5 SHEETS--SHEET 3.

LQQSEGQY f5. l o an 32 7 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 11,1919.

5 S EETSSHEET 4- F KB. I O

Z J w w WWW? a 0 1 o W 5 0 W 2 M mm 0 MT 2 .i W/ME Z Z I.

ATgORNEY M. R. HUTCHISON.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1916.

STAPLE FORMJNG AND,SETHNG MACHINE. 1,296,966.

M. R. HUTCHISON'.

STAPLE FORMING AND SETTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED FEB. 19, I916.-

Patanted Mar; 11, 1919.

5 SHEETS -SHfET 5- i r JNVENTOR.

' 4 ATTORNEY.

mg v is a specification.

MILLER REESE HUTCHISOBI, OF WEST OHMIGE, NEW JEESE'E'i i H smartsromaine awn SETTING nacrrinn.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that l, MILLER Reese l-lwrcnison, a citizen of the UnitedStates; residing in i -Jest Orange, county of Essex, and State of NewJersey have invented certain new and useful Improvements in StapleForming and Setting Machines of .which the followlhis invention relatesto machines for forming and setting staples such as areused vforfastening together sheets of papenor for other similar purposes, and itis designed primar ly to provide a, simple mechanism which will take-thewire or material for forming the staple from a spool, or

other source of supply, cut the same ofi 111 proper length, form thesame into a'staple and driveand clench the staple. As will beapparent,however, someof the features of improvement hereinafter set forth may beemployed with advantagefin machines which do not perform all of theoperations indicated. I

The objects of the invention are ingeneral to provide a machine of thecharacter descr1bed,'of very simple and strong construction, which shallperform the necessary operations with preeision,'which shall possessgreat durability, which shall be capa ole of handling the wire withoutliability of the latter becoming deranged in themachine so as tointerfere with its proper oper ation and which shall be easy to operateand to replenish with staple-forming material.

A more specific objectof my invention is the provision of astaple-forming and setting machine which shall be of such smalldimensions and simplicity of operation that it is adapted for generalofice use and which can be constructed at so low a price as to make itgenerally available for such purpose.

in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification andwhich illustrate one preferred embodiment of my 'inventionvin the formof a compact hand operated paper fastemng machine, Figure l is a planview of the machine with the cover removed. Fig. 2 is atransverse'vertical section through the machine taken on line ll'l1 of Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a fragmentary end View of the machine a part of the end plate ofthe frame being broken away and portions of the machine being shown insection, illustrating the-parts ai a1- a partial movement of theoperating Specification of Letters Patent. Paitgntfiql Application filedFebruary is. 1916. Serial in. 79,241.

handle has taken place, and the wire for forming a staple is about to becut 05.

'Fig. 4. 1s a front vertical sectional View of the parts shown in Fig. 3taken on line Iv -1V of F ig. 3. Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. '1showing the staple partly formed. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showingthe staple formed and the staple setting plunger about to begin itsmovement. Fig. '7 is a front sectional view similar to Fig. l showingthe parts in the position' illustrated in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a Viewsimilar to Fig.6 showing the parts at a .slightlyadvanced stage in thecycle of operation, the setting plunger having begun its action offorcing back the staple-forming horn and having just engaged the staple.Fig. 9 is a View similar to Figs. 8, 6 and 8- showing a further advancein the cycle of operation, the plunger. having forced the staple partlythrough the papers. Fig. 10 is a front sectional view showingtheposition of'the parts indicated in Fig. 9. Fig. '11 is a view similar toF ig; 9 showing the final position of the parts and the staple clenchedto the paper. Fig.12 is a front sectional View showing the parts inthe'posi tion shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a. plan View of theclenching. anvill Fig. 1a is a sectional View through the same on lineXEVXU ofFig. 13.. Fig. 15 is a per- Mar. ii, leis.

spective view of the underside of the paper,

orotlrermaterial, showing the ends of the staple clenched thereto. Fig.16 is a perspective view of the Wire-feeding mechani'sm. Fig.1? is aperspective View of the apparatus with the cover in place showing theguide marks for assisting in properly locating the articles to bestapled in correct position. Fig 18 is a vertical sectional View throughthe wire-holding spool mounted on its support. y

Supporting base. Reierring to the draw ings in detail the numeralldesignates a base provided with end walls 2 and having a suitable slotor pocket 3 formed in its front.

. edge'to receive the papers-to be fastened.

The base preferably provided with a forwardly-pro ecting inclined 11p,4; to assist in guiding the papers intothe pocket. The

base, end walls and )ocket may conveniently be formed as an integral.casting although this is not essential.

a; storing and tensional" mcam.-- Mounted in the base is a stud 5,which-forms a bearing for a spool 6 upon which is wound a supply of wireor strip 7 which is used for forming the fasteners or staples. Such aspool may contain enough wire to form a great many thousand staples sothat the machine has to be recharged only at long intervals. Suitablemeans are preferably employed for preventing too rapid unwinding of thewire from the spool and producing the proper tension on the wire, thesemeans, in the form of apparatus illustrated,

. comprising the leaf spring 8 which is slipped over the upper end ofthe stud 5 and held in frictional (engagement with the top of the spoolby suitable means such as the nut 9. The spring 8 is prevented fromrotating with the spool by having its end held between the ribs 10formed on the end wall of the base. In order to make sure that the spoolwill be properly placed in the ma-' chine withthe wire" leading fromthe, side thereof adj acentto the wire-guiding means,

the spool and its support are preferably so formed that it is impossibleto placethe spool 'incorrectly.' This may be accom plished in anysuitable manner, for example i as shown in Fig. 18, by formingthe upperpart of. the stud 5 as a portion of ,reduced diameter 5 the opening 6'in the lower part of the spool being large enough to pass over thelarge diameter of the stud, while the opening 6 in the upper end of thespool is of suiiicient size only to go over the reduced upper end of thestud. For convenience-the upper end of'the spool preferably bears asuitable legend such as This side up. Wire-stmightening. 'means.The.wire 7 after leaving the spool, passes through a guide 11 Which, asillustrated, is in the form of a small tubular member and then through astraightening device 12 which, as shown,

comprises a pair of grooved pins or disks 13 and a cooperating flangedguide 14:, these members 13 and 14 serving to strain the wire beyond itselastic limit so as to take the kink out of the wire and cause it totravel in 'a straight line to the. staple-forming mechanism withoutspringing out of alinement, owing to itsprevious coiled condition. Inorder to separate the members 13 and 14 to permit a new wire to beinserted between them and to provide for adjustment, the'guide 14 ispreferably eccentrically mounted upon a pivot screw .15 and is providedwith an operating finger lti by feeds the same to the staple-formingmechanlsm. Tlns feeding device may be of any suitable construction andlocation to accomplish the desired purpose, but as illustrated (seeparticularly Figs; 1 and 16) itcomprises a slide 20 mounted toreciprocate in a groove 21 formed in the inner face of a front plate 22secured at its ends to the end walls of the .base. The slide 20 carriesa yoke-shaped stationary gripping jaw 23 provided with teeth 24: on-itsinner end surface and a movable jaw-25 pivoted at 26 to the side membersof the fixed jaw and having teeth 27 which cooperate with the teeth ofthe fixed jaw to grip the wire. I A spring'28 holds the jaw 25 a 'ainstthe wire. The movable jaw face 27 eing offset with relation to thepivots 26, it will be seen that as the slide 20 and jaws move toward thewire straightening device they will slip freely along the wire, but whenmoved in. the opposite direction the jaws will firmly grip the wire andcarry it with them. Any suitable means may beemployed for reciprocatingthe wire-gripping. mechanism, these means being shown as comprising thelever 29 mounted on the pivot 30 and'having a slot 31 in itsouter endadapted to receive the pin 32 projectingfrom the fixed jaw 23. The leveris forced in a direction to feed the wire forward by means of a cam 33having an inclined cam face 34, which engages with a roller 35.mountedon the le'Ver,-the cambeing mounted on a shaft 36 which in the form ofmy invention illustrated constitutes the main operating shaft of themachine. When released by the cam the lever is returned to initialposition by aspring 37 attached to an arm 38 projecting from the hub ofthe lever. The shaft 36 is supported in any suitable manner, one endbeing shown as journaled in an upright 39 rising "from the base of themachine, while the other end isjournaled in the end wall. The shaft isadapted to be partially rotated or oscillated by means. of a handle orhandlever 40 secured thereto.

Cutting-07f and stapling-forming mechanism.The wire is fed by thefeeding mechanism through a hard metal die'50 mounted in a lug 51projecting upwardly-from the base (see Fig. 4:). This die forms astationary member of a cutting mechanism the movable member of whichcomprises a hard metal" shear 52 having a cutting edge 53 and which issecured in a recess'in the side of the staple-forming head 54. By thisconv struction, which is very strong and simple,

the. movement of the staple-forminghead first cuts ofi the wire and thenforms it into a staple, as-will be described; but while this is apreferred mechanism 'it will be understood that thecutting mechanism mayif desired be of any other suitable form than that shown, and may beentirely separate messes from the stapleforming mechanism. Thestapledorming head 5% therein. The head is also provided with aguideway' 58 in which slides the driving or setting plunger 59 whichwill be further described hereinafter. The forming head is mounted so astohave an up and down movement for cutting ofi the wire and formwing thestaple, the preferred method of tion.

' being nornially held in pro ect d mounting being that illustrated inthe drawings in Which the head forms the end of an arm which is pivotedat 61 to the base. The arm and head are preferably raised position bysprings 62 (see Fig. 2). lhe head and arm 60 are adapted to be forceddown'by a cam 63 mounted on the main shaft 36 and preferablyconstituting the inner end of the operating lever e0.

his cam engages a bearingsurface. 64 on the arm and is shaped to providea dwell or portion of substantially constant radius 65 which permits acertain amount. of" movement of the operating handle to take placebefore the head begins its downward movemen-t. The dwell 65 is followedby an, active surface 66which forces down the arm and head'during afurther period of move ment of the operating handle after which a seconddwell 67 1s-reached upon the cam (see Fig. 9) which serves to hold thehead down while the final movement or the operating handle drives andclenohes the stap'le as will be described later.

For holding the section of wire after being cut oil and to cooperatewith the formthe staple, a staple ing head i in forming ZllllS formingblock or horn'ZO is provided. block has an open sided slot 71 facethrough which the wire is fed before l ig. l, and in which the wire isheld after heing cut ofi and during the forming opera- The front face ofthis block is provided with inclined or cam surfaces 72 and '23 forapurpose which will be hereinafter expla ined,the upper of these surfacesprererably overhanging the lower slightly as shown. This forming blockor horn is suitably mounted for reciprocating movement preferablydirectly upon the base 1,.it being shown as having a shanir 7% whichslides in a guide Y5 mounted upon the base, and it 0 position by aspring 7'? mounted on a stem 'ZSand compressed between the shoulder i?i'orrned the end of the shank i l and a lined abutment 80 securedto thebase. (See lFio'. The bifurcation in the lower end or the forming headis of just sufiicient width receive the horn 5'0 and to term the stapleby bending the end portions 81 of the secslot 'Z'l of the horn.

held in in its front til tion of Wire'over the horn so as to form. thelegs of the. staple'as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and. 7, these legs beingreceived in the grooves 5'? in the cheek pieces 56, while the center orbody portion 82 of the staple is held in the lhe operation of thecutting ed and tonn ing mechanism willnow be apparent. lit will be seenthat as the arm and forming head are forced downward by the activesurface66 of the cam 65 the section of wire held in the groove 71 in thehorn will first be cut 05 by the cutting edge 53, whereupon theengagement of the corners of the jaws or check pieces 56 willimmediately bend down the staple legs 81 as shown in Fi 5, the forminghead continuingits movement until the staple is completely shaped withits legs parallel, and heldfirmly in position in the grooves in thecheek pieces, as shown in Fig. 7. The dwell 67 on the cam is now reachedso that the forming head is maintained in its downward position duringthe further operation of the handle which brings into action thestaple-driving and clenching devices now to be described.

Staple-driving. and done/ling medianm'sm.-,-The driving or" the stapleformed and held as described is accomplished by the driving plunger 59above-mentioned. which is slidably mounted in the recess 58 in theformin head and held in such recess by the front p ate 90. lhis plungermoves with the forming head during the operations of cut ting 0% andforming as above de'scibed, it being held in its uppermost position, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3, by any suitable so A means such as the spring 91engaging a lug at the proper time to receive the body poi- 'tion 82 ofthe staple, and it'preferably has its inside lower corner rounded, asindicated P l I 1 I n at 96, Ior engagement with the nclined surfaces 72and *4'3 oi the horn. Suitable means are provided for forcing down theplunger,

thisiunction being accomplished in the construction illustrated by thedirect engagement of a projection 9? formed upon the handle 40 with "epper end oi the plunger, as shown in Fi 6, '8 and 9. The nrst downwarc.movement the plunger with reference to the forming head causes therounded corner 96 engage the surface 72 on the horn, and owing to theinclination of such surface to force the latter backward as shown inFig. 8 so as to withdraw the slot therein from engagement with the bodyof the s is, the latter being meanwhile firmly held the which areretained between A in'yn't.\ the grooves the eneel. ier-es oi c119torming head and sides of the horn. The body portion of the staple isnow engaged by the groove in the lower endv of the plunger and thestaple is forced down by the continued movement of the plunger and itslegs driven into the paper or other material into which the staple is tobe set, which is inserted in the slot 3 in the base as indicated by thebroken lines 98 shown in Figs. 9, 11 and 12. As the forcing down of the.staple progresses the horn is further retracted by the engagement ofthe corner of the plunger with the inclined surface 7 3 of the horn, asshown in Fig. 9. Thus it will be seen that the legs of the staple arefirmly held between the cheek pieces and the horn during the actual driving operation. The legs of the staple when driven completely through thepaper engage the clenching anvil 100 as shown in detail in Figs. 13 and14, which is provided with the grooves 101, which serve to turnover andguide the lower ends of the staple so as to clenchthe same overunderneath the paper as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 15. The clenchinganvil preferably comprises a separate hard metal die set ina recess102in the base and-held therein in any suitable manner as by the screws103, shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Figs. 13 and 14 the grooves 101 arepreferably deeper at the ends first engaged by the respective legs ofthe staple, so as to bend the same over, not too sharply, and to causethe 'ends to be directed upward at'a reentrant angle. The ends of thestaple legs will thus be forced back into close contact with the paperor caused to actually enter thereinto, as shown in Figs. 12 and 15, thusburying the sharp ends of the staple and making a smooth finish whichwill not catch upon other papers or'cause scratcln A pair of clenchinggrooves 101 arranged diagonallywith respect to the axis of the body ofthe staple are preferably provided, although this is not essential ifthe staple legs are so formed as to not. overlap. WVith the constructionshown, however, it will be seen that the staple legs may be made'long,but willpass by each other, thus giving a very firm grip, As muchpressure as is desirable may be applied to the operating handle andtransmitted from the latter through the plunger to the staple so as tocause the same to grip, and, if necessary, tightly compress the paper.

In order to facilitate the starting ofa new piece of wire throughthe'apparatus'a slot 110 is preferably formed in the end Wall beyond theforming head so as to permit the wire to be pushed beyond the latter andpulled from the outside, thereby securing perfectly straight length ofwire through the machine. By thenmanipulating the de vice so as to cutoff. this extra long piece of wire the apparatus will be placed incondition for regular operation. Unless this is done there may bedifficulty in causing the wire to start feeding properly as there'willbe a tendency for the wire'to buckle up between the feed jaws and thedies unless it is perfectly straight.

Non-return ratchet-As a precaution" vide a ratchet mechanism which willprevent the reversal of direction of movement of the operating partsexcept after thecompletion of a stroke in either direction. A suitablemechanism for this purpose is shown which comprises a ratchetwhcel 111fi ed to-the shaft 36 and having a large number of small teeth 112 andalso carrying two pins or stops 113 and 114C. The ratchet wheel also hasformed in it adjacent to the stop 113 a notch 115. coiiperating withthis ratchet is a double-acting pawl 116 having,

two prongs 117 and 118v and which is pivoted at 119 to lugs 120 risingfrom the base. The pawl also has a rearwardly-projecting tail 121 .whichis adapted to cooperate with a spring 122. The latter is preferablyformed with a wedge-shaped lug 123 at its endv which is adapted to actupon either the upper or the lower surface of the tail-and to causeeither one or the other of the pawl prongs to engage with the ratchetdepending upon whether the tail of the pawl is engaging the uppersurface of the lug as shown in Figs. 2 and 9, or the lower surfacethereof as shown in Fig. 11. The operation of this ratchet it will beseen is as follows: Starting with the handle in the position shown inFig. 2 it will be seen that the ratchet will permit free motion of theshaft in the direction of the arrow, but that the pawl will immediatelystop any motion in the opposite. direction. When the stroke forward hasbeen completed, however, it

will be seen that the pin 113 will engage the lowerv prong of theratchet whichit is shown about to do in Fig. 9. This engagementwill'swing the ratchet about its pivot nal position, but it cannot .bemoved only part-way back and then moved forward again, as the pawlwhichnow occupies the relation shown in Fig. 11 will prevent this. Whenthe handle has been moved back however the pin 11 1 will engage theupper prong of the pawl as shown in Fig. 2 and restore the pawl to itsoriginal position.

Goverami spacing mm*7cs.The machine is preferably provided with asuitable re movable cover such as is shown at 130, which nseoeeo fitsdown upon the base and. encl wells entl front plate 22 so as tocompletely inclose the I mechanism, it being shown as secured "to thefront plate 22 by the screw 131' (see Figs 1 and 17). lhe cover isprovided with e slot 133 through which the operating handle projects.Obviouslyony suitable form of cover or casing may he employed. in orderto facilitate the proper'locetion of the staples at equal distances fromthe sides oi. a ioun lle of papers, or pamphlet, or the like, wh chis-to be stapled at more than one-piece, 1n-

dicating'arrowsfi he 125 are preferably placed on the front ofth'emachine as shown vin Fig. 1?. The mark or arrow 1% is placed over thecenter of the clenehing die while the Inerkl2-5 will he placed at adistance from the arrow 124 equal to. the'clistance of whereupon hepapers are slicl elong until.

the left-hand etlge of the papers is uncler the arrow-125when the nextstaple will hevset,

'0g mt0%. lhe operation of the machine it will nowhe seen is as follows:ihe wire having been lei irons the spool throi gh the guide,streightener, feed device, die e116;

forming memhers (as shown in Fig, 1) the papers or other article to tsstsplecl ere slipped into the slot 3. Lhe operating handle 40 is thenpulled forward, the first device is rea 'z' to grip a second length ofwire. The continued forward movement of the handle 40 causes the lift 66of the care 63 to force down the forming heed thereby cutting of? thelength of wire for the first staple and forming it as alreadyclesoribecl, Further forward movement of th'e'hent'ile senses theprojection 97 to engage the one or" the clriving pliinger and force theletter flOWD, which drives thesteple and; simulteneoirsly presses heel;the horn emi tiltinietely by forcing the legs of the staple intoengagement with the grooves in the anvil clenehes thelegs oi the stepleanti causes the reentrent points of the letter to press into theunderside of the paper es has already heen set forth. Cihroughont thedriving of the staple and until the legs ere substantially hurieql inthe paper, will be seen that the staple is firmly sopportecl between thehorn smiths grooved hook pieces of the forming" heed. Wien he staple hasbeen dri en encl clenched he hnnclle is moved heel: to original peelemployed illlCl-lil feet ii tion, either by hand or by means of a springor otherwise. This movement permits the driving plunger to be restoredto its initial position with relation to the forming head by the aetionof the spring 91, while the forming head is lifted. to its initialposition by the spring 62. The horn is also restored to its position bythe spring 77. All of these movements take place while the handie ismoving from its forward position to a substantially upright position, asshown in Fig. 3., and during this time the feel lever has occupied itsleft-hand. posi tion as shown in dotted lines in, Fig. 1.

The further backward movement of the handle causes the cam face 34: toengage "the roller 35 and thereby feed the wire through the-die 50 andinto the position shown in Figs. 1 and l, when the device is ready foranother operation.

Thus it will be seen that the firstpart of the forwar-cl stroke ofthehandle restores the feed device to sposition to feed. at secondlength of wire, wh1le' the last part of the forward stroke. cuts oh,forms and, olenehes the staple, while on the hack stroke the first partor the stroke restores the forming and driving mechanism to initialposition,

machine in Vcondition for at second oper'a-.

ti'on. The entire operation of the device thus'requ-ires merely aforward enei hackwsrd movement of the handle which may be and preferablyis less than 180 in extent, and all the operating pertsere driven from asimple rook shaft having the necessary cams and ratehets nonntedthereon. In fact in the. preferred construction shown the actualoperationsv oi cutting oi" the wire, staple forming and driving areperformed by parts driven directly by portions of the opereting henclleitself. The utmost simplicity of parts and the maximum er' fioieney ofoperation are thus insured.

it will he understood that numerous ehang'es in the organization of theappsetns and in the tleteils of construction of the various parts may hemade without (leperting from my invention. For example the insehine maybe driven by power or by e treaelle or niey cle in multiple form so asto set a phi I y o" spaced. staples at the some time. i snitehlewirestrsightening anal i etling cievices may be soin oeses certain partsof the; app; stirs t9; omitteclor utilized with 0th meshesisini Forexample the driving eienching devices eonld be so 0 tires. to set;oreviously formed staples erefore while 1 have illu'strsteel end 6riheel in sletsil one pret'errecl embodiment of my invention i do notintentl to limit myself thereto, hut intend to cover my invention andthe various while the last part of the heck stroke feeds featuresthereof broadly and in whatever form they may be embodied.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new herein and desirevto secure and the other controlling the wire feeding means, wherebyupon the operation of said lever the said means are actuated in a givensequence.

2. In apparatus of the class descrlbed, the

combination of means, for supporting a section of staple forming wire,amovable forming headfor bending said'Wire-intothe form of a staple andfor holding and guiding said staple during the said operation, a settingmember carried by said forming head but movablerelatively thereto, andmeans for moving said forming'head to form a staple, moving said settingmember to setthe staple, and holding saidforming head in its actuatedposition while the said member is actuated, said means including a cam,one portion of the surface of which actuates the forming head, andanother portion of the surface of which holds the said head in actuatedposition as set forth, and a'projection on said cam member adapted tooperate the said setting member.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a pivotedarm, a stapleforming head carried thereby, a staple-setting'membercarried by said head, a shaft, a cam lever mounted thereon, the camthereof being adapted tocause said armto swing about its pivot so as tomove said head and cause it to form a staple, and a projection extendingfrom said lever for moving said staple-setting member relatively to saidhead to cause it to set said staple when formed.

4. In apparatus of the character described,

- the combination of wire-feeding means, stapie-forming means andstaple-setting means,

a shaft, a cam on said shaft for operating said wire-feeding means, alever mounted upon said shaft, a cam integral Withsaid lever andprovided with an inactive surface which first becomes effective topermit said first mentioned cam to function upon the movement of saidlever, said inactive surface on said cam member being followed by anactive surface for effecting the operation of said staple-forming means,and said active surface being followed by a second inactive surface forretaining sald forming means in V a given position during the operationof said staple-setting means.

ing head in its actuated position while said setting member is actuated,said means including a cam, having an active surface for actuating theforming head to operative position, and an inactive surface formaintaining the head in operative position.

6. In apparatus of the character described,

"the combination of a movable staple-forming head, a staple-settingmember carried by said head, but movable relatively thereto, and anactuating member havingra cam portion for operating said head and aprojecting portion formoving said staple-setting member relatively tosaid head.

' 7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of, apivoted arm, a staple forming head carried thereby, a staple-settingplunger slidably mounted on said head, and an operating member having acam surface engaging said arm to swing the same about its pivot andcausesaid head to move to form a staple and also having a surface thereonadapted to engage said plunger and move the same relatively to saidheadto set the staple formed'thereby.

S. In apparatus of the character described, a casing having an end wall,a stud mounted adjacent said wall and having a portion of reduceddiameter, a wire containing spool having "heads, each of which isprovided with a central aperture, one of said apertures being lessindiameter than the greatest diameter of said stud, a tensioning springengaging one end of said spool, and means on said end wall engaging theend of said spring to prevent the latter from rotating with said spool.

9. In stapling mechanism, the combination of wire feeding and cuttingmechanisms, staple forming and staple setting mechanisms; an operatinglever for actuating said mechanisms by acontinuous movement in onedirection, and means for preventing return of the operating lever toinitial position until it has been moved to its extreme actuatedposition.

l0. In stapling mechanism, the combination of wire feeding andcuttingmechanisms, staple forming and staple setting mechanisms, an operatinglever for actuating said mechanisms by a continuous movement in onedirection, and ratchet and pa'wl mechanisms controlled by said lever forpreventing return of the lever to initial position before it has beenmoved to its extreme I actuated position.

'11.;111 stapling mechanism, the combination of Wire feeding and cutting-mecha- ---ifient in one direction, a shaft on which said -lever ismounted, a ratchet carried by saidshaft and a pawl controlled by saidratchet for preventing-movement thereof in a predetermined direction andthereby return of ,the operating lever to initial position before thelever has been moved to its extreme aotuatedposition. v 12. In staplingmechanism, the combination of wire feedin'g and cutting mecha-.nisms,-staple forming "and staple setting mechanisr'ns', an operatinglever for actuatingsaid' mechanisms by a continuous movement in onedirection, a shaft on which said lever is mounted, a ratchet carried bysaid lever for maintaining the pawl in position to "prevent movement ofthe ratchet in a direction to return the operating lever to initialposition before it has been moved to its extreme actuated position,

13. In stapling mec'hanism, the combination of Wire feeding" and cuttingmechanisms', staple forming and staple setting mechanisms, an operatinglever for actuatj shaft, a pawl cooperating with said ratchet, and' aspring controlled by said operating Y ing saidmechanism's by acontinuous movement in' one direction, and means for preventing onlyapartial movement of said lever in a direction to operate saidmechanisms, and to prevent only a partial return of said lever toward,initial position.

MILLER REESE HUTCHIISON.

